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Why this indicator is important

There is good evidence showing that for complex surgery, hospitals (centres) performing that particular surgical procedure more frequently (higher volumes) are associated with better patient outcomes, including improved survival [1–5]. People are appropriately more likely to be offered surgery in these centres.

Surgical procedures performed for lung, rectal, pancreatic, oesophageal and ovarian cancers are examples of complex surgery. As a result, recommended minimum volumes (target volumes) for these treatments have been (or are in the process of being) agreed with NSW hospitals to improve patient outcomes.

About this indicator

The graph below shows the percentage of resections for lung, rectal, pancreatic, oesophageal and ovarian cancers in NSW hospitals that performed above the target annual volumes, and the number of hospitals that performed above the target volumes during the financial years 2009/10 and 2014/2015. For example, for lung cancer surgery in 2009/10, ten hospitals performed above the annual target volume, and 72% of lung cancer surgery took place in hospitals performing above the annual target volume. In 2014/15, 16 hospitals performed above the target volume for lung cancer surgery, and 90% of such surgery took place in hospitals performing above the target volume.

Percentage of people having resections in NSW hospitals performing cancer surgery above annual target volumes, and the number of hospitals above, Financial Years 2009/10 and 2014/15

Source: Combined Admitted Patient Epidemiology Data (sourced from Secure Analytics for Population Health Research and Intelligence (SAPHaRI), Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health)

Notes:

1. Resections at Albury Base Hospital have not been included in this report because this hospital reports services to the Victorian Department of Health. Resections in the two children's hospitals are also excluded.